Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Excuse me. Mr. Martin gave a robust defence of the integrity, position and decision-making capacities of the directors. He cited company law and suggested that to respect the regulations, rules and oversight associated with substantial public moneys would somehow run counter to the standing of the board. I am putting it to him that is rubbish. It is a very lame defence of what went on here and I wish he would desist from it. Whether or not the HSE should have a director on the board is an argument for another day, although it is probably a good suggestion. The directors have failed to give a full explanation as to why Mr. Conlan was put in place when the board knew full well that certain procedures had to be gone through. The correspondence just indicates that he was the best person for the job and that was it. That is astonishing. The directors have also tried to explain away the circumstances surrounding Mr. Kiely's individual salary arrangements and those of other individuals on the basis of "legacy" contracts, fear of litigation and further costs to the clinic. Yet, with the very same Mr. Conlan, as my colleagues have established, the directors were happy to breach pay regulations and HSE guidelines yet again. This suggests to me, whatever about the technicalities and details, an incredible level of arrogance that I suggest does not sit well with the ethos of the CRC. It is very worrying and at the risk of being repetitive, I do not believe one can have a board of directors charged with the provision of such critical services to people with disabilities who, quite frankly, find the HSE a nuisance, find concerns expressed by the taxpayer a nuisance and want to take money from the Exchequer and then drive on and operate in whatever way they wish. Then, to top it all, they come before a committee of the Oireachtas and in a very robust fashion, put that position forward. I was alarmed, worried and concerned coming into this meeting. I am now more alarmed, having heard what the directors have said.